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“Saturday Night Live” has finalized the cast for Season 51, and a handful of fan-favorites are returning to Studio 8H for its premiere Oct. 4.
Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim and Chloe Fineman are each coming back, The Post confirmed, while Kenan Thompson will return for an impressive and record-breaking 23rd season on the beloved NBC sketch comedy series.
“SNL” star Bowen Yang during the “Service Dogs” sketch May 10. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
“SNL” star Ego Nwodim during the “Clothing Ad” sketch May 3. Caro Scarimbolo/NBC via Getty ImagesColin Jost and Michael Che will retake their seats behind the “Weekend Update” desk for their 12th year reading the news together, after rumors that “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels had been screen-testing new anchors for the popular segment.
Jost’s wife, Scarlett Johansson, confirmed that the comedian was “going back to work” shortly before the finalized cast was revealed Monday.
Other stars set to return include Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernández, Andrew Dismukes and James Austin Johnson, as well as Season 50 newcomers Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline.
Variety was the first to report the news.
The Post has reached out to NBC for comment.
Returning “SNL” star Chloe Fineman. Caro Scarimbolo/NBC via Getty Images
Kenan Thompson during the “An Act of Kindness” sketch in 2024. Kait Dugan/NBC via Getty Images
Colin Jost, Nwodim and Michael Che during “Weekend Update” in April. Will Heath / NBC via Getty ImagesAmong those not returning to Studio 8H are Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner.
Walker, 34, was the first star to announce his exit last month after Michaels, 80, teased a cast shake-up.
“Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,” he shared on Instagram. “Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f–ked up lil family.”
Jost during “Weekend Update.” Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
Mikey Day during the “Edible Arrangements” sketch. Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images
Returning “SNL” star Sarah Sherman. Caro Scarimbolo/NBC via Getty ImagesWakim and Longfellow soon followed.
“It was the most terrifying, thrilling and rewarding experience of my life, and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home,” Wakim, 27, wrote on social media.
“Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL,” Longfellow, 31, added in a post of his own. “Wish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far.”
Marcello Hernández during the “Office Christmas Party Extravaganza” sketch. Chinaza Ajuonuma/NBC via Getty Images
Andrew Dismukes during the “Boss’ Bathroom” sketch. Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images
James Austin Johnson during the “Pip” sketch. Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty ImagesLongfellow, who joined “SNL” as a featured player in 2022 before being promoted to the main cast last year, later detailed how and when he learned he was booted from the show.
Fineman appeared to confirm she was coming back when she took to Instagram last month to bid Longfellow farewell.
“Will miss ur sleepy ass at pre-tapes,” she wrote to her former co-star.
Devon Walker at “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” in February. Variety via Getty Images
Emil Wakim at the “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.” Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Former “SNL” stars Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner. Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty ImagesAs for Gardner, The Post confirmed her exit last month after a record-breaking eight seasons as the longest-tenured woman on the show. An insider said her contract with “SNL” was not renewed.
“It’s time for a new cast,” the source exclusively shared.
Meanwhile, it was announced that five new featured players will be joining “SNL.”
Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Please Don’t Destroy’s Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska will make their debuts when the show returns to NBC Oct. 4.
